Surgical treatment and ESI (epidural steroid injection) are widely used forms of treatment for cervical radiculopathy but they are controversial and burdensome for patients. To relief pain fast without side effects, w...
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Surgical treatment and ESI (epidural steroid injection) are widely used forms of treatment for cervical radiculopathy but they are controversial and burdensome for patients. To relief pain fast without side effects, we devised a new minimally invasive treatment method that widens the facet joints to decompress nerve roots and release the muscle spasm in cervical radiculopathy with acupuncture needles with blunt tip and mini-scalpel, and named it modified acupuncture procedure. MAP (Modified acupuncture procedure) was administered for 37 patients (mean age = 53.1 years, follow-up = 14.2 months) with cervical radiculopathy who did not recover from 4 weeks of nonsurgical treatment. We analyzed clinical outcomes of patients before and after the procedure through VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) and NDI (Neck Disability Index). On average, patients received 1.4 MAP (modified acupuncture procedures). The VAS score difference on the day after procedure and at 1 year follow-up was 36.8 ± 26.5 (from 60.1 ± 25.3 at the baseline to 25.3 ± 17.8 at the reading) (P < 0.01) and 31.0 ± 30.4 (29.0 ± 21.8 at the reading) respectively. The NDI value dropped by 19.9 ± 18.3 (from 37.2 ± 19.7 at the baseline to 17.2 ± 15.0 at the reading) (P < 0.01) on 1 year follow up. MAP was found to have clinical efficacy for cervical radiculopathy.
AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of radiotherapy (RT) in patients with advanced unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: A total of 65 patients were treated with RT in the Korea University Medical Center. Th...
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AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of radiotherapy (RT) in patients with advanced unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: A total of 65 patients were treated with RT in the Korea University Medical Center. The median age of the patients was 60 years, and 86.2% were men. 18.5% and 81.5% of the patients were diagnosed as TNM stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ-A, respectively. Treatment response was assessed 4 mo after initiation of RT. Tumor regression rate 1 mo after initiation of RT (TRR1m) was also assessed. Duration of survival was calculated from the initiation of RT. RESULTS: The objective treatment response was 56.9%. The 12 mo survival rate was 34.7%. Predictive factors for survival were Child-Pugh grade, α-fetoprotein level and treatment response. An objective response was achieved more frequently in patients with TRR1m ≥ 20% than in those with TRR1m < 20% (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: RT is effective in treating advanced HCC with a tumor response rate of 56.9%.
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